Photo: Fernando J. Martin Cuenca
Yeray Lemes takes a last minute win over Xevi Pons in Rallye de Guijuelo
The second round of the Spanish Gravel Championship took place last Saturday near Guijuelo, Salamanca, a village that hosted this rally for the fourth time.
Despite the weather forecast saying it would rain, the sun shined all day long, which made the stages to be very dusty. Yeray Lemes took the victory in the first stage of the rally over Xevi Pons, but the Catalonian won the second stage, what was enough to lead the rally by 6.7 seconds after the first couple of stages. Behind them, Oscar Fuertes was third, just in front of Dani Solà, whose C2 Proto had problems in the first stage, surprisingly the one who should had been the best for his car, because of its narrowness. Fifth was rallye-raid driver Nani Roma, who returned to the Gravel Championship, while Championship leader, Brice Tirabassi, lose one minute on Stage One, added later to a three minute penalty.
On Stage 3, Xevi Pons took another scratch, just like on the next stage, which gave him a 20 seconds advantage, while Yerai Lemes and Oscar Fuertes fought for the second place: Lemes lost ten seconds on Stage 3, but regained that advantage on Stage 4. In the battle for fourth place, second place on Stage 3 wasn't enough for Solà to prevent Roma from approaching to podium, but the difference was almost inexistent: 0.8 seconds after the fourth stage. At that time, Brice Tirabassi was already assuming that this rally would be only a test, as he had lost more than four minutes to Xevi Pons.
Stages 5 and 6 would increase Pons's advantage to 28.7 seconds, after two more scratchs, while Lemes separated from Fuertes, who fell to fourth place in favour of Nani Roma. In this couple of stages, the Rally suffered the loss of Dani Solà and Brice Tirabassi: the first one reported transmission issues, while the Subaru driver had a puncture, and decided to retire. Those retirements allowed Group N leader, Willy Villanueva to climb to fifth position overall.
There were four stages left now, two of them Super Special Stages and were supposed to be just a formality for Xevi Pons, who slowed down. That explains why Lemes took three fastest times in a row on Stages 7, 8 and 9. But what nobody could imagine happened: Xevi Pons suffered mechanical issues on the last stage, and despite the fact he arrived to the end of stage, he lose two minutes and a well-deserved victory, as he fell to fourth place.
So, Yeray Lemes won the rally and is the new leader of the Spanish Gravel Championship. Second finished a great Nani Roma, who beat Oscar Fuertes by only a tenth of a second, finishing Pons fourth, and Willy Villanueva being fifth overall and Grop N class winner. In 2WD, 2008 Desafío Peugeot champion Alberto Monarri was the winner, in front of some Group N 4WD, and Gorka Antxustegi, who clinched Suzuki Swift Cup title last season, took the victory in the first rally of a new cup run with VW Golf II: the Fun Race Cup."
Rallye de Guijuelo video
RALLYE DE GUIJUELO 2009 RESULTS
1. Yeray Lemes/Samuel Vega (E) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 46.56,0
2. Nani Roma/Joaquin Muntada (E) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +48,3
3. Oscar Fuertes/Helio Casarrubios (E) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +48,4
4. Xevi Pons/Alex Haro (E) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X +2.10,4
5. Williams Villanueva/Borja Aguado (E) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +3.10,0
6. Benito Guerra/Dani Cue (E) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X +3.46,0
7. Eduard Fores/Xavier Aluju (E) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +4.29,8
8. Victor Senra/David Vazquez (E) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X +5.07,0
9. Carlos Maruez/Aintzane Goni (E) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X +5.12,9
10. Carlos Aldecoa/Ainoha Sarasua (E) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII +5.25,1
Campeonato de España de Rallyes de Tierra
1. Lemes 52, 2. Pons 41, 3. Fuertes 36, 4. Tirabassi 32, 5. Roma 25, 6. G. Villanueva 16.
Pictures by Fernando J. Martin Cuenca
Article by Eloy Entrembasaguas
Video by Manuel Abarca Reina
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